Plymouth is officially the safest place in the country for a night out as figures show the number of people injured in the city's night-time venues has fallen significantly.

With the city’s pubs and clubs getting tough with those intent on causing trouble, instances of violence leading to injury, and drug possession, have declined.

So much so, Best Bar None Plymouth, the organisation that strives to maintain the highest standards in the city’s clubs and pubs, has been named the best BBN scheme in the entire UK.

It was placed top of the pile, beating schemes in 75 other towns and cities, by a panel of independent judges.

Catherine MacDonald and Jay McDonnell, centre, of BBN Plymouth after the scheme was named the best in the country at the House of Lords

And it based its entry on the declining crime figures in the Evening-and-nighttime-economy (ENTE), particularly in the 135 venues that are either members of BBN or its partner organisation Pubwatch, or both.

“We have won the award for being the safest and most enjoyable place for a night out in the UK,” said Jay McDonnell, chairman of BBN Plymouth.

“Statistics show we are running the safest operation in licensed premises. Plymouth is the safest night out.”

Of course, that does not mean there is no trouble in Plymouth after dark, but the city is getting safer and is ahead of other locations in the UK.

In fact, police figures for 2017 showed there was a 9.7 per cent increase in crime in the Plymouth ENTE.

Read More

However, this was against a 20.3 per cent rise in all crime across Devon and Cornwall.

And some of the crimes increasing were not associated with pubs and clubs.

BBN Plymouth’s evidence to the judges showed decreases in crime “correlated closely” to the bars where staff had been trained, particularly in how to conduct searches for drugs, stopping drunks and troublemakers from getting into premises and sharing information about them among the city’s nightspots.

It meant Plymouth saw an 11.9 per cent fall in drug possession, a 19.8 per cent DROP in public order offences and a 20.7 per cent decrease in injuries resulting from violence.

Also, police data showed fewer people were admitted to Derriford Hospital’s A&E department from areas where pubs and clubs were members of BBN.

The BBN Plymouth submission to award judges was supported by the police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Plymouth Argyle FC and Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, who said: “Crime figures suggest there is a significant difference between the crime increase in the force (area) verses a much lower increase in the Plymouth ENTE area.”

Read More

BBN Plymouth is the longest running scheme in the country, set up more than 10 years ago. It has 55 venues actively engaged in the scheme.

BBN award judges were “very impressed” with the number and variety of premises involved, the longevity of the scheme and the fact that “clear evidence” was provided to show it is making a “demonstrable difference”.

They also liked BBN Plymouth’s partnership with Plymouth Against Retail Crime (Parc), its use of an app enabling all retail and licensed premises to share details of individuals who are banned from the city centre.

Mick McDonnell is the Best Bar None National Coordinator (Image: Penny Cross)

It has also run training on drug awareness, counter terrorism, and vulnerability issues.

In one case, door staff who had attended the vulnerability training course were able to step in and prevent a serious sexual assault from taking place.

Read More

Mr McDonnell was part of a delegation that travelled to the House of Lords, in London, where the 2018 BBN winners were announced.

Plymouth took home the trophy and certificate for Best Overall Scheme, and pocketed a £3,000 prize which it will use to provide further training and support for the city’s bar and security staff.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Also in the delegation were Catherine MacDonald, BBN Plymouth co-ordinator; Richard Smith, chair of Plymouth Pubwatch and South West regional representative for the organisation nationally; Plymouth licensing Sgt Dave Moore, and Nico Williams, manager at the Stannary Court which was named as Plymouth’s best bar at the city’s BBN awards in 2017.

Torquay’s BBN, which also reached the final, was highly commended at the awards event, hosted by national BBN chairman Lord Smith of Hindhead, Victoria Atkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability and Minister for Women.

Launched in 2003, BBN is a Home Office-backed scheme that works with the alcohol industry, police and local authorities to promote responsible alcohol consumption and higher professional licensing standards in pubs, bars and clubs.

By working to reduce crime, disorder and under-age sales, BBN helps create a “safer and more responsible alcohol related leisure environment that encourages people of all ages to socialise”.

Mick McDonnell, BBN’s national co-ordinator, said: “All those involved with the Plymouth BBN scheme deserve to be congratulated.”